Unions Spend Millions in Wisconsin, Will Lose Control of 'Senate'

There can be no more epic a FAIL than that which has occurred in Wisconsin. Despite spending millions of dollars (and losing a chunk of members), unions were not only unable to flip Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch out of office, but the brief non-victory they did have has just ended.

State Sen. Tim Cullen, a moderate Democrat from Janesville, broke with his party’s caucus Tuesday, saying he may become an independent over what he felt were political “insults” by the Senate majority leader.

The immediate result of the defection is not known. Democrats took control of the Senate on July 16 by a 17-16 margin and are still moving into new offices. State Sen. Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, is stepping down Aug. 6 to take over as Gov. Scott Walker’s deputy chief of staff, so even if Cullen leaves the party, Democrats will still hold a slim majority: 16-15-1.The Senate isn’t scheduled to meet until January, and 16 of 33 seats are up for election in November.

The results? Democrats have a one-seat majority for a non-existent senate that has already adjourned and won’t return until after the November elections, when two of the seats are slated to flip to red. The unions and the people of Wisconsin are a few million dollars lighter after this tantrum.